Oakland cops' PR campaign targets layoff plan

Budget

Oakland police union officials lobbying to prevent layoffs have began a robocall campaign against one mayoral candidate and are urging officers to flood newspapers' Web sites with pro-police comments in advance of a crucial City Council meeting tonight.

The Oakland Police Officers Association is also urging members to show up in droves at the 5:30 p.m. City Hall meeting, at which the council will consider plans to lay off 80 to 150 of the city's 776 police officers.

"We need members to attend City Council meeting," a message on the union's Web site said Wednesday, adding that the goal was 200 officers. "Members should sit together. Attire is OPD shirts or memorial shirts."

13th murder attributed to East Area Rapist/Golden State Killer suspect Joseph DeAngeloMedia: Tulare County District Attorney's Office

Lost in the FireMedia: Guy Wathen

Alameda County Fire Department video of a small plane that landed on the highway in HaywardMedia: Alameda County Fire Department

Food truck robbery in Los AngelesMedia: San Francisco Chronicle

CHP gives update on death of Officer Kirk GriessMedia: CHP Solano

A posting of a news story about Oakland's budget on the union's Facebook page urges, "Please click on this link and make comments on this article. Let's flood out the cop haters."

The Police Department has become the focal point of the city's need to eliminate a $30.5 million deficit. City Council members have said layoffs could be minimized or at least delayed if officers contribute 9 percent of their salaries toward pensions, but the union wants a guarantee of no layoffs in future years.

Tuesday evening, some residents received a recorded phone message from union President Dom Arotzarena focused on Councilwoman Jean Quan, a mayoral candidate and chair of the council's finance committee.

Quan "has refused to consider other viable options or even to consider making cuts to nonessential city services," Arotzarena's message said.

Arotzarena, a police sergeant, did not return calls Wednesday. Union Vice President Barry Donelan, also a sergeant, declined to comment.

Quan suggested the call was more about politics than substance. She noted that the union hadn't criticized De La Fuente, a long-time labor leader, even though he advocates laying off 150 officers while she is calling for 80 layoffs absent any concessions.

Quan also noted that the union has endorsed mayoral hopeful Don Perata.